Sotiraq Hroni is a former Albanian diplomat, an adviser to Albanian Prime Minister (1997), and adviser to the President of the Republic of Albania until the end of 1999. Mr. Hroni is the founder and executive director of the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM), a non-governmental organization that over time developed into a think tank organization actively contributing to reforms and development processes in Albania.

Since its establishment, Mr. Hroni’s main responsibility has been with the overall management and development of the organization. His continuous commitments stand with offering relevance to IDM’s strategic development with the country’s development priorities. Mr. Hroni’s contribution rests also in continuous efforts to strengthen the organization institutionally, build a team of like-minded individuals, and jointly lead result-oriented processes in each of IDM’s programmatic areas. Currently, IDM operates in four different research areas including Governance, Security, EU and the Balkans, and Local Governance & Integrated Development.

Through his vision, Mr. Hroni has led the organization’s efforts to grow and achieve a merit-based identity in the civil society market in the country and the region. Moreover, he has built efficient cooperation and partnerships with public and private institutions, which have sustained and grown over the years. This has led IDM to enjoy a credible and remarkable reputation in Albanian society.

Rovena Sulstarova is the Manager of the Governance Program. Additionally, Rovena is IDM’s in-house legal expert that assists with legislation and judiciary-related projects.

Her work experiences include leading positions in public administration and educational institutions and in the management of donor financed projects and programs in the education field. She has held different senior positions in the public administration, including the Prime Minister’s office and the Ministry of Education and Science. Rovena has been a member of the Administration Council of University of Tirana, and has lectured on law and education in public and private universities. She currently teaches education law and policies at the Faculty of Social Sciences of University of Tirana.

Rovena holds a MSc in Law and a M.A in European Studies from the University of Tirana. She received her PhD in Education from the University of Tirana and she holds the title of attorney from the Albanian Bar Association.

Rovena is fluent in English and Italian, and speaks German at a basic level.

Selected publications:

Vurmo, Gj., Sulstarova, R & Dafa, A. (2021) “Deconstructing State capture in Albania: an examination of the Grand Corruption cases and Tailor-Made laës from 2008 to 2020”’.

Transparency International; https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/deconstructing-state-capture-in-albania-an-examination-of-grand-corruption-cases-and-tailor-made-laws-from-2008-to-2020

Sulstarova, R, Kasmi, J. (2021) “’Guarding the guardians: parliamentary oversight of independent institutions in Albania”’. Institute for Democracy and Mediation. https://idmalbania.org/guarding-the-guardians-parliamentary-oversight-of-independent-institutions-in-albania/

Sulstarova,R.., Kuci, B., and Agolli, M.(2021) “”Corruption and Integrity in Albania state police 3:00” Tirana :IDM. https://idmalbania.org/report-police-integrity-and-corruption-in-albania-3-0/

Sulstarova, R (2020) “’Integrity Risk Methodology for the Central Government”. Tirana: IDM. https://idmalbania.org/ëp-content/uploads/2021/01/Police-Integrity-Report_3.pdf

Sulstarova,R.., Xhaho, A., and Agolli, M.(2020). Monitoring Report on Police Vetting Process. Tirana: IDM

Sulstarova, R (2017) “Implementation of Bologna Process in Albania 2007-2015” Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 8 (5): 53-59.

Sulstarova,R.., Kuci, B., Qirjazi, R and Agolli, M.(2019). “Report on assessment of state police ethics and integrity” ’. Institute for democracy and Mediation. https://idmalbania.org/assessment-report-on-state-police-ethics-and-integrity-june-2019/

Aliaj, Besnik & Sulstarova Rovena (2008) “Një platformë për edukimin politik në Shqipëri” ( A platform on political education in Albania). Tirana: Institute for Democracy and Reforms.

Sulstarova, R. (2012). The Legal Reform in Higher Education Facing the Exigencies of Albanian Society, Social Studies 6 (3): 75-82.

Mimoza Agolli is a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Democracy and Mediation (IDM), where she supports IDM’s research agenda through the application of frontier research methodologies and rigorous quality assurance standards.

Ms. Agolli brings over two decades of experience as a consultant and researcher in economic policy. Her work focuses on the welfare and distributional impacts of public policies, including fiscal policy, education policy, and climate change. She has extensive expertise in national statistics and is highly proficient in quantitative, econometric, and computational methods for research and policy analysis. Throughout her career, she has provided expert support to public institutions, private banking organizations, non-governmental organizations, and international agencies.

Ms. Agolli holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Finance from the University “F. S. Noli” in Korçë. She earned a Master of Science in Applied Economics and Management Sciences from the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICH/CIHEAM) in Greece. She has also completed PhD-level coursework in Quantitative Economics at the Faculty of Economics, Christian Albrecht University of Kiel, Germany.

Besjana Kuci works as a Project Manager and researcher at the IDM.

Ms. Kuci holds a M.Sc. in Political Theory and a BA degree in Political Science from the University of Tirana.

Over the last five years, Ms. Kuci has successfully managed projects on police integrity, strengthening of civil society and public sector approach to anti-corruption.

Ms. Kuci’s areas of interest include public institutions transparency and anti-corruption policies. Also, she has extensive experience in youth trainings on civic engagement activities through online platforms. She is member of the Swedish Institute Alumni Network.

Romario Shehu is IDM’s security program officer and researcher, focusing on security-related programs and projects. His work centers on security sector governance, violent extremism, organized crime and foreign policy.

He holds a Master of Sciences in International Relations from the University of Tirana and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and International Relations from Epoka University. He is fluent in Albanian, English, and Turkish.

Romario is an Exchange Alumni of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) in the United States; Aspen Fellow – Alumni of Aspen Romania’s 2023 Program; and member of the International Advisory Board at the United Against Hate in Madison, Wisconsin.

Romario joined IDM in 2016 and has contributed to the following publications:

• The 2024 Assessment of Violent Extremism in Albania: Drivers, Forms, and Threats;
• Study report Pandemic management and lessons learned for a more secure future;
• Successfully reintegrating violent extremist offenders;
• Little Black Book of Organised Crime Groups in the Western Balkans;
• Russia and the Future of Europe: Views from the Capitals;
• Working Paper on enabling environments, drivers, and occurrence/nonoccurrence of violent extremism;
• 2020 Civil Society Organization Sustainability Index Albania;
• The status of Violent Extremism in Albania: A national assessment of drivers, forms and threats;
• Falling short of commitments: how Western Balkan governments fight organized crime;
• Mapping civil society responses in confronting organized crime in the Western Balkans;
• 2019 Civil Society Organization Sustainability Index Albania;
• Role of Religion in the Western Balkans’ Societies;
• Violent Extremism in Albania;
• Community Perspectives on Combating Violent Extremism in Albania;
• Reconsidering the role of civil society and religious authorities in building community resilience in Albania;
• Next generation Turkey and its foreign policy in the Western Balkans;

Adelina Ormeni is a seasoned finance accounting manager and tax specialist with over 18 years of experience in private business sectors, including professional services, advertising, legal services, and trading. With a robust background in financial reporting, taxation, and financial consultancy.

Since December 2024, Adelina has been expanding her career by working in a non-profit organization, where she continues to leverage her financial expertise while contributing to impactful community initiatives. Her role allows her to bring her strategic financial management skills to the non-profit sector, supporting mission-driven operations with precision and dedication.

Before transitioning to the non-profit field, Adelina worked as a freelance finance accounting manager and tax specialist, assisting small and medium-sized companies with financial reports, annual financial statements, balance sheets, and tax compliance. She also provided tailored financial and accounting consultancy to diverse sectors such as beauty care, restaurants, and advertising agencies.

A graduate of the University of Economy with a degree in Finance, Adelina further advanced her qualifications by pursuing the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) course at the Certified Public Accountant Institute under the Ministry of Finance. She is proficient in MS Office, ALPHA Business, Financa 5 and QuickBooks bringing a high level of technical skill to her financial expertise.

Fluent in Albanian, English, and Italian, Adelina is recognized for her clarity in communication and problem-solving abilities. Her commitment to excellence and passion for financial consultancy continue to drive her success as a trusted financial and accounting advisor.

Iliada Korçari works as a researcher and project coordinator at the Institute for Democracy and Mediation, where she focuses on governance and area studies. Her main research interests are nationalism, state-building, and modern and contemporary thought.

She has worked in the public administration cultural policy sector for several years; was engaged as a freelance researcher in different research projects and has been teaching seminars of Nationalism and Identity at the University of Tirana, Department of Political Sciences, since 2015.

Iliada has a double-major in Political Sciences and Public Relations and Communication and has graduated in Political Theory, MSc. and Russian and East European Studies, MSc., being a holder of many scholarships.

She is a proficient user of Albanian (native), English, Italian and Spanish, an independent user of French and basic user of German and Bulgarian.

Selected publications:

• Korçari, I. 2010, Feb 10. Kosova si kampi ku gjendja e jashtëzakonshme është bërë e zakonshme [Kosova as the camp where the state of exception has become normal]. Gazeta 5(18), 4-5.
• Korçari, I. 2009, Nov 18. Dimensioni spektakolar i politikës sot: Çështja “Marubi” [The spectacular dimension of politics now days: the Marubi Affair]. Gazeta (8), 14-15.
• Korçari, I. 2007. A e zgjidhin kuotat çështjen e përfaqësimit? [Do quotas solve the question of representation?]. Gaja (3).

Sara is a Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Officer and Researcher at the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM). Her research focuses on security issues, countering violent extremism, and cyber-civic space. As an M&E Officer, she supports IDM in tracking program indicators and assessing the impact of projects, leveraging a decade of experience managing projects in security, resilience, and community development in Albania.

Since 2015, Sara has supported the implementation of projects supported by international organizations such as the EU, NATO, and Hedayah. Her responsibilities include field and desk research, organizing national and regional events, and liaising with stakeholders to deliver measurable results.

Her work focuses on evidence-based evaluation and continuous improvement, ensuring projects align with donor expectations and IDM’s organizational strategy. Sara holds a MSc degree in Political Science and International Relations from Epoka University in Albania. She is fluent in English, French and has some knowledge of German.

Selected publications:

• Kelmendi, S., & Shehu, R. (2024). The 2024 Assessment of Violent Extremism in Albania: Drivers, Forms, and Threats.
• Reçi, M., Kelmendi, S. (2023). The freedom to defend rights in online spaces: Challenges for women human rights defenders in Albania. In Bavčić, E. (Ed.), Online Actions, Offline Harms: Case Studies on Gender and Cybersecurity in the Western Balkans.
• Reçi, M., Kelmendi, S. (2022). Bridging the Gap Between Cyber Policy Fragmentation and Human Rights. In Klopfer, F., & Merali, L. (Eds.), Cybersecurity and Human Rights in the Western Balkans: Mapping Governance and Actors. Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF).
• Kelmendi, S., Shehu, R. (2022). Working Paper on Enabling Environments, Drivers, and Occurrence/Non-Occurrence of Violent Extremism. In Osland, K., & Bøås, M. (Eds.).
• Vrugtman, L., Kelmendi, S., Shehu, R., & Angjeli, D. (2021). The Status of Violent Extremism in Albania: A National Assessment of Drivers, Forms, and Threats. Tirana: Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM).